End of jailed Iranian journalist hunger strike confirmed

[JURIST] Iranian political prisoner, dissident journalist Akbar Ganji [Wikipedia profile; advocacy website], has ended the hunger strike he began on June 11 to protest the conditions of his confinement, his wife confirmed Monday. The confirmation follows an earlier announcement from the Iranian judiciary [JURIST report] that Ganji had called off his protest. Ganji was sentenced in 2001 to six years in prison for implicating Iranian officials in the murders of opposition intellectuals and writers. The White House has called for Ganji's release [press release], saying that his calls for freedom in Iran deserve to be heard and on Friday, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged [BBC News report] that Ganji be released on humanitarian grounds. Prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi called the hunger strike "play acting," saying "one day, he eats and then for several days he refuses to do so." Ganji remains in the hospital, but has been removed from intensive care and is said to be in "fair" health. AFP has more.

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